‘People should be allowed to do what they like’: Autistic adults’ views and experiences of stimming

Kapp, S. K., Steward, R., Crane, L., Elliott, D., Elphick, C., Pellicano, E., & Russell, G. (2019). ‘People should be allowed to do what they like’: Autistic adults’ views and experiences of stimming. Autism, 23(7), 1782-1792. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361319829628

Publication date: 28 Feb 2019 Added to AutiHub: 6 Jul 2026 Type: Article Article language: English

This publication is integrated into AutiHub through:

Authors

Publication authors
7
Publication authors identified as autistic
2 / 7 (28.6%)

Abstract

'Stereotyped or repetitive motor movements' are characterised as core features in the diagnosis of autism, yet many autistic adults (and the neurodiversity movement) have reclaimed them as 'stimming'. Supported by a growing body of scientific research, autistic adults argue that these behaviours may serve as useful coping mechanisms, yet little research has examined stimming from the perspective of autistic adults. Through interviews and focus groups, we asked 32 autistic adults to share their perceptions and experiences of stimming, including the reasons they stim, any value doing so may hold for them and their perceptions of others' reactions to stimming. Using thematic analysis, we identified two themes: stimming as (1) a self-regulatory mechanism and (2) lacking in social acceptance, but can become accepted through understanding. Autistic adults highlighted the importance of stimming as an adaptive mechanism that helps them to soothe or communicate intense emotions or thoughts and thus objected to treatment that aims to eliminate the behaviour.

Bibliography cited by this reference

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Bibliography inclusion overview

These indicators describe the cited bibliography imported for this publication. Cited-reference metrics use the cited-reference total as denominator. Cited-author metrics state whether they use all cited-author occurrences or only occurrences linked to authors already integrated in the AutiHub database. They use cached links between cited authors and authors integrated in the AutiHub database. Last computed: 16 Aug 2026 11:30.

Cited references
70
Total cited references integrated for this publication.
Cited references with an identified autistic author
7 / 70 (10.0%)
Cited author occurrences identified as autistic
7 / 150 (4.7%)
Among occurrences linked to AutiHub author records: 7 / 33 (21.2%). Distinct cited authors identified as autistic: 5 / 139 (3.6%).
Cited author occurrences linked to AutiHub author records
33 / 150 (22.0%)
Distinct linked cited authors: 28 / 139 (20.1%)
Linked cited-author occurrences not identified as autistic
26 / 33 (78.8%)
Among linked cited-author occurrences only. Across all cited-author occurrences: 26 / 150 (17.3%). Distinct linked cited authors not identified as autistic: 23 / 28 (82.1%).
1 cited bibliography entry could not be fully enriched from DOI metadata.
Crossref: not found (1)
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